Enabling Trusted Contacts to Co-monitor Smarthomes for Emergency Response

Core Concepts

Sharing smarthome devices with trusted emergency contacts can provide benefits like improved personal safety, safeguarding against material loss, and peace of mind, but also raises privacy and security concerns that need to be carefully addressed through flexible access controls and transparency features.

Abstract

The study explored the potential benefits, drawbacks, and design considerations for developing a smarthome system that facilitates co-monitoring with emergency contacts who live outside the home. Key findings: Participants saw benefits in co-monitoring, including improved personal safety, safeguarding against material loss, and peace of mind by ensuring quick emergency response and verifying potential threats. However, participants were also concerned about privacy invasion, overburdening emergency contacts, and potential security threats like unauthorized access. To address these concerns, participants designed features for flexible and granular access control, such as time-limited sharing, location-based access, and the ability to revoke access. Participants also suggested features to improve transparency, like viewing the location and activity status of emergency contacts, to better manage the co-monitoring process. The study reveals the need to carefully balance the benefits and risks of smarthome co-monitoring through thoughtful system design.

Stats

"The two things that come to my mind right away, is like saving my house from burning, saving from breaking in...it [co-monitoring] will save me from potential financial loss" "It's a more of the reaction time is faster, especially if you're out of town, and somebody who's close to the home, they can act faster. Somebody who monitors the home can respond to it faster." "I think maybe worrying people unnecessarily, I think if it was, like just mentioned, false alarms. So you know, if there are notifications from the app that are not about emergencies that might be concerning to people that I know." "So sharing the devices would cause more risks, because if somehow our smarthome system is hacked from their phones, and our information gets leaked, then it might not be that useful to us."

Quotes

"The two things that come to my mind right away, is like saving my house from burning, saving from breaking in...it [co-monitoring] will save me from potential financial loss" "It's a more of the reaction time is faster, especially if you're out of town, and somebody who's close to the home, they can act faster. Somebody who monitors the home can respond to it faster." "I think maybe worrying people unnecessarily, I think if it was, like just mentioned, false alarms. So you know, if there are notifications from the app that are not about emergencies that might be concerning to people that I know." "So sharing the devices would cause more risks, because if somehow our smarthome system is hacked from their phones, and our information gets leaked, then it might not be that useful to us."

Key Insights Distilled From

Co-designing Community-based Sharing of Smarthome Devices for the Purpose of Co-monitoring In-home Emergencies

by Leena Algham... at arxiv.org 04-17-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2301.06652.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the design of a smarthome co-monitoring system balance the benefits of improved emergency response with the risks of privacy and security breaches?

The design of a smarthome co-monitoring system must carefully balance the benefits of improved emergency response with the risks of privacy and security breaches. One key aspect of achieving this balance is through implementing granular access controls. By allowing users to set specific time schedules for sharing their devices, revoke access at any time, and share only specific devices or capabilities, the system can provide users with a sense of control over who has access to their devices and for how long. This granular control can help mitigate privacy concerns by ensuring that only trusted individuals have access to the necessary information during emergencies. Additionally, incorporating features such as location tracking of emergency contacts can enhance the system's transparency and accountability. Users can monitor the whereabouts of their emergency contacts to ensure they are in a position to respond to alerts promptly. This feature can help users make informed decisions about when to involve emergency responders based on the proximity of their contacts to the home. Furthermore, the system should include robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access and protect user data. Implementing encryption protocols, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates can help safeguard the system against cyber threats. User education on best practices for secure device sharing and privacy protection can also contribute to maintaining a secure environment.

What are the potential unintended consequences of enabling smarthome device sharing, and how can they be mitigated?

Enabling smarthome device sharing can lead to several unintended consequences, including privacy violations, burdening emergency contacts, and security vulnerabilities. To mitigate these consequences, the following strategies can be implemented: Privacy Protection: Implement granular access controls to allow users to specify who can access their devices, for how long, and which capabilities they can utilize. Providing clear notifications and consent mechanisms can also enhance transparency and ensure that users are aware of who is monitoring their devices. Burden Management: To prevent burdening emergency contacts, users can set up automated alerts and notifications to minimize false alarms. Clear communication about the expectations and responsibilities of emergency contacts can also help manage their involvement effectively. Security Measures: Enhance the security of the system by implementing robust authentication methods, encryption protocols, and regular security updates. Conducting regular security audits and risk assessments can help identify and address potential vulnerabilities proactively. User Education: Provide users with comprehensive training on safe device sharing practices, privacy protection, and cybersecurity awareness. Empowering users to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to secure their devices can mitigate the risks associated with sharing.

How might the concept of smarthome co-monitoring be extended beyond emergencies to other use cases, and what new design challenges would that raise?

The concept of smarthome co-monitoring can be extended beyond emergencies to various other use cases, such as home automation, remote caregiving, and energy management. By allowing users to share their devices with trusted individuals for different purposes, the system can enhance convenience, efficiency, and safety in various scenarios. However, this extension may introduce new design challenges, including: Data Privacy: Ensuring that shared data is protected and only accessible to authorized users for specific purposes. User Permissions: Managing different levels of access for various use cases and users to prevent unauthorized actions. Integration Complexity: Integrating multiple devices and services for diverse use cases while maintaining a seamless user experience. User Interface: Designing intuitive interfaces that allow users to easily configure sharing settings for different use cases without confusion. Scalability: Ensuring that the system can accommodate a growing number of users and devices without compromising performance or security. Addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive approach that considers the diverse needs and preferences of users while prioritizing privacy, security, and usability in the design of the smarthome co-monitoring system.